Yahoo’s Barry & USC’s Dr. Cole to give keynote at MIPTV

MUMBAI: Yahoo! Inc. Connected TV vice president Patrick Barry, and Center for the Digital Future at USC’s Annenberg School director Dr. Jeffrey Cole, will deliver keynote speeches on 1 April to kick off a day of conferences at MIPTV 2009 looking at the on-going media disruption and the latest digital lifestyle trends.

Barry leads the Connected TV initiative for Yahoo!’s global Connected Life division. During his keynote he will reveal what it takes to bring the best of web to the TV in a meaningful way and how device, content and technology partners are working together to enable the connected TV ecosystem. He will share a vision for the emerging world of Internet-connected TV-combining the Internet’s choice, community, and personalization with the power of television.

Cole joined the USC Annenberg School for Communication in July 2004 as director of the newly formed Center for the Digital Future, a research and policy institute seeking to maximize the potential of the mass media and rapidly evolving communication technologies. Drawing on eight years of data and insight from a worldwide study in over 20 countries, he will separate myth from reality and describe how the Internet and mobile technology are changing the fabric of daily life. Cole will provide invaluable insight about the future of TV, mobility, broadband usage and about how new digital channels are being embraced by consumers. The presentation will examine the trends and developments that are likely to occur in the next three to five years.

As part of the newly-launched MIP Digital Forum, the day of conferences on 1 April will focus on new forms of connection to television, notably through the Internet and game consoles. Various sessions around key themes such as on-demand TV, mobility and living room entertainment, will bring together major players from the telecoms, traditional broadcasting and advertising sectors as well as the platform providers.

The MIP Digital Forum takes place during MIPTV from 30 March to 2 April. The conference includes focuses on cross-platform content production, broadband video business models, connected gaming and TV convergence, mobility and marketing and features a Creative Storytelling & Branded Entertainment Summit.